Are all Chinese made katanas TRASH? [sword talk] 

its about time that a young man just says it how it is doent beat around the bush and says it straight. Thankyou Bug!

I personally have a 4000 usd japanese made tamahagane katana. But i have a 500 usd chinese made katana that i actually like better. It all comes down to your personal feel and preferences. But every single thing this guy says is dead accurate.

"Chinese katanas suck" Ronin katana: hold my beer

Some say the ancestors were crafting the "real thing" while the modern counterparts are just common fodder "that lack a soul"? The blood , sweat, and effort poured into it during forging makes the blade feel as if it were a living creature.

Thank you very much for posting this very informative video! I appreciate and value your insights. Can you recommend any Chinese manufacturer who make tachi swords in the range of US$ 300 upward? I'm looking for something that can do heavy cutting (3-inch diameter wood, etc.).

I have a Chinese made katana for about $500 US and for the money I am impressed with the blade and the fit and finish is pretty good. I wondered though if they are just junk so thanks for this video.

I was impressed with the 1095 steel katana I got for my son so I ordered myself one, from the same seller, although mine is made from 9260 spring steel. His was well made and a beautiful blue gimmick (worth the extra few bucks lol) mine is semi hand polished. Thanks for the video and your breakdown of these swords, I would of felt more confident in my first buy if I had seen this first but my chance paid off

I didn't expect this video too be too in depth, but it would have been nice to see some factory shots and see them being made. I own 5 Katana swords and 3 Ninjato swords including a couple of just fun wall hangers. The other 6 are step ups from those. I have 2 heat treated entry level high carbon 1060 steel Katana swords and I have 3 Decent level swords and the prices he suggests are higher but ballpark priced when I bought mine from 2011-2016. My highest end swords which are all Ninjato swords (Ninjato swords are just like a Katana but straight not curved) retailed for around 200.00 to 400.00 in 2010. I got the black one (My best sword) in 2011 on sale for 199.00 (400.00 in 2010). It has a leather tsuko ito (cord wrap on the tang) with real strong leather which requires special treatment (Lexol) to preserve the leather. It is also hand forged in modern Damascus steel. (Damascus steel has never been exactly made the same as in historical times hundreds even thousands of years ago. Though, we know it's exact metal makeup almost exactly. Crucible steel is even less known.) I was hoping to hear more about the Decent blades hand forged that are made of Damascus steel since many are made of that steel now. Tip: All of my entry and decent swords get a gun oil treatment once a year even if I never take them out of the Saya (scabbard).

Any experience with Murasame sword company? I recently purchased one of theirs for $179 that said real hamon clay tempered T10. I know it's not top notch by any means. But hopefully decent for almost 200 dollars.

@JustaBug who made the red wakizashi?Who do you suggest in $300 range that constantly have good blades and heat treat?

I have some experience with Chinese Katanas. I've a 1045, 1095 and T-10 all made crafted in Longquan all full tang. The 1045 was indeed colored black on the finish and was folded steel without a Hamon. Held up to usual cutting, not paper sharp but bamboo capable $130. The 1095 is a cheapy beater with a Fake hamon for 60$ and the T-10 for $160 that has a true hamon. Do your research on the seller and your purchase and you should be fine. Its just hard to tell past actual use what steel you're getting.

Hello. What do you think about SHINING SWORDS? I can't find any information about it. And what do you think or know about manganese steel. Thanks.

Are you saying I can't take my TMNT katana into battle with me?

Making it traditionally means youre making everything from scratch. The Blade, Scabbard, Handle and of course, the fittings, putting hard work into to forging the blade, Carving the scabbard and handle from a block of wood and making a unique theme or design for the fittings. thats why having a katana that is unique feels like an honor In today its just mass produced, blades made with massive machinery unlike those who made it traditionally, fittings cast following one design with relatively low quality, handles and scabbards ready made and not shaped or carved for one blade only I would buy a traditional one if i already have mastered kendo or iaido (i would just probably have it as an heirloom and would have never use it) but for know I’ll only have the chinese ones or use

Well Huawei kensei and liuyesword ones are really nice and sometimes they are even really high quality ones like the kensei akkorokamui Also some functional stainless steel swords exist but they are rare like some katanas made by marto in spain or actual ww2 japanese naval swords

Thank you ,where did you get them from,are they available online.... Especially the entry ones...

Which companies are the best to buy Katanas from?

Very new to this channel you’re doing an amazing job man keep up the great work

Awesome video thank you for sharing! :-) you can't go wrong with silver series Musashi and up

I’ve had my ten ryu katana for many years and have no complaints it’s 1095 carbon steel and has took every bit of abuse I’ve thrown at it

Ive been dying to buy a katana and wakizashi for years and i just ordered the wakizashi still waiting to get it. Im hoping its a decent one.

Ryujin (the SBG brand) is a pretty decent brand for the price (and superb shipping speed). There's always a few small issues with them (ex. No hishi-gami, ito that's a tiny bit loose, loose saya on the buy, etc etc), but they're trite (and also things that can usually be fixed with a little time and effort) in comparison to the blade itself, which is an absolute monster of a hunk of T10 (with real hamon and decent, workable fit and finish). I own an aikuchi daisho from them, and both of the blades are really excellent. They look alright, and both pack a punch (the pool noodle stock in my basement for this summer doesn't stand a chance). And, although I'm not 100% sure, given that they're an SBG brand, they probably prize feedback a little more than other bigger name brands. But in any case, I'm super happy with my daisho, and would recommend Ryujin to anyone.

Have you heard of sino or jkoo swords? If so how do you feel about them. I just got a custom katana from them and I quite like it.

love your videos!!!! quick question? where to buy a japanese Katana from japan? do you know a good website? thank you.

Would you guys recommend T10 or 1095 carbon steel? And which ones stronger and firmer?

Hey, I’m also in Australia. Can you recommend some good sellers in the entry to decent level you describe. Looking to spend around $200-$250 AUD. Many thanks, good info.

The usual , critical issue for any sword blade is how well tempered, and how well quenched. These processes are critical to the strength and flexibility of the steel of which the blade is made. Failure in these two areas is usually lethal for a knife or sword blade.

Where do I find a master Smith level in China? Any website link

I just received a T10 katana as a birthday present, pretty pleased so far!

Do you have any experience with yomikuni swords? I'm about to get a katana for entry level, but not sure where to buy...

So what are the brands of Wakizashi you have and can you throw out a name or two of Korean makers of Japanese katana (hopefully with websites in English 😁)?

The difficult part is knowing which manufacturer of the just above beginner sword is best, as there are so many companies that sell online. I am sure a lot of people pay hundreds of dollars for sub-hundred dollar 1045 swords that claim to be 1060 or 1095. And no good way to test the steel for a novice.

There's a seller on eBay by the name of Murasame. Would you consider these swords in the decent class?

Bought two katanas both made in China, one with regular 1095 high carbon steel ($400) and one with t10 steel ($600) both are full tang and hold an edge pretty well. Very functional

I was wondering if you or anyone has had any experience with katans bought from vansworld off eBay. They are Chinese made katanas. Curious what others think of the quality.

do you know anything about kamito swords? especially in the 700 to 1000 dollar range. and can you give me any info about them?

what about t10 steel katana? are they good?

Longquan blades are good. To offer buyers budget swords, they do use cheaper fittings. They also offer way better fittings and scabbard on the more expensive ones. T10 clay tempered swords are awesome BTW.

Hi may I know where u bought ur wakizashi ?

Awesome video from a blacksmith and steel enthusiast it doesn't matter where they come from its who makes them I have a friend who forages for lyuesword in longquan they make decent affordable swords and some higher end ones but the quality verys by the smith still his father's blades sell for thousands while his sell for hundreds to 1 thousand max it's all in the metal and maker not the country or race of the person

100% correct in my experience, I have a few and agree fittings are usually the weak point but fixable if you care

Interesting! Recently bought a katana on EBay that claims to be kobuse construction with folded 1095 outside and a 1065 core, and a real hamon. Paid $240 US for it. It came VERY sharp, too. Not sure where the quality level would fall but it at least SEEMS to be reasonably decent. Seller is "Shinken Sword".

very informative thanks !

Before I even watch this video I just want to say: if you care of the cultural aspect of the sword then buy a Japanese sword made out of folded iron sand. Chances are, while it’s more expensive, it’s much more higher in quality with the fittings and design. If you want a sword that is best suited for durability and blade quality, go with a trusted Chinese made sword. They use modern steel which is better than iron sand in nearly every way. I also don’t recommend folding the blade as modern steel is already pure and it’s just overdoing it and you’re arguably paying more for a weaker blade. However Chinese swords have lesser quality fittings, not to a degree where you would likely notice however

Very informative. Lots of things I didn't know. Thank-you.

What’s the minimum price for a traditional katana

Waiting for high end tamahangane katana from China ,have seen the progress that has been sent to me personally which in customer service is second to none ,master smith ,,it is stunning ,all brass ,gold silver inlays ,a++ polish , the sword is a piece of art 😊

I got a Katana for around $300 and it's T10, is this a good blade or not?

where do i find a unsharpend katana thats great for training

Young brother, you left out a lot of important information. The first katanas came from China to begin with. What people see as samurai swords are the results of an altered Chinese sword but none the less it's functions suits it's purpose. To cut. It's not important where something is made or by whom. It's all about how well it's made. There's good and bad from everywhere. If you buy cheap stuff expect it to be cheap no matter where it came from. Top grade anything is still top grade no matter where it's from.

Well done. This video was very helpful. thank you for making this.

Thank you for yet another great video!

Nice video, keep up the good work

What are your thoughts on dragon king katanas

I got 8 of them, from entry level to my $ 1500.00 CAN Hanwei Tory XL light. All have held up over the last 10 years or so.The Tori is a beast. Check a review here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tWm6_-pC4ns.html

I wanted to say thank you for giving us a regular voice on the internet to discuss swordsmanship with. You're easily one of my favorite sources for information on eastern sword arts, and I've learned a lot from you, and learned to look at things from a different perspective. Speaking of different perspectives, this video actually raised a question that I'd wanted to ask you, since you seem to have a connection to tradition and also a forward view of modernity as well. TL:DR: There's a whole lot of mess below that you can completely ignore, but gives a bit of insight into my reasons for asking, but in an effort to avoid wasting whatever time I might have your or anyone's ear, my question is really this: "What is your opinion on colored blades and modern/non-traditional/experimental fittings, finishes, and colorations on katana?" If you had a real-life nichirin blade, even though there are no demons for you to slay, would you consider the colored blade a detraction from the elegant beauty of a katana, or would it be more beautiful in your eyes? I thank you for your time, and I hope you are doing well. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am long-winded and I have no excuse for that except for the fact that that's just the kind of person that I am lol I know you're a fan of Demon Slayer, so the thought may have crossed your mind at some point, but I'm really curious about your opinion on them. Not necessarily metal coatings, which are expensive to touch up and will wear away unevenly and look like trash if they're used, but something like a metal dye, that can be removed with a metal-safe solvent, and touched up or redone any time the user wanted. Perfectly functional katana that are given an aftermarket work-over to become a beautiful, deadly functional art piece. Do you the reader believe that there is room in the world of eastern swordsmanship for what some might call decadent indulgence? If Miyamoto Musashi rose from the dead and started wielding a blade that was colored red or blue, would the people who were a safe distance away criticize the aesthetic or recognize that the tool is unaffected by its appearance in that regard, and see his skill and the quality of the weapon? Is the humility of modern sword arts sacrosanct, and does any extra decadence simply detract from the quality of the weapon? I'm of the opinion that most 'traditional' finishes and practices are held in high regard due to their historical significance, but were originally done just because they were available. I beseech anyone to find me the religious significance of sprinkling brick dust onto tree sap on a piece of wood, but brick dust was used to coat many saya because it looked good and provided grip, and was cheap and available. I firmly believe that if those ancient sayashi had access to modern materials, they would continue to innovate and experiment in the same vein. Access to modern materials like tsunami ito or modern pigments to add to urushi would have absolutely influenced them, so I feel that it's true to the spirit of the original creators to improvise and innovate. I understand that it would be seen by a lot of people who are steeped in tradition and treat ancient art as sacrosanct would disagree with modern materials, but I've never met someone who used a tsunami wrap who didn't admit that it was as comfortable or practical if not moreso than traditional silk or leather ito. I'm just really interested in your opinion on it. I'm a guy who likes my weapons to be luxurious, since in this day and age they are luxury items. One of my videos (not a plug, just an illustration of my point), shows what I call the 'bunny bow,' which is a bow made in a composite bow profile, (which I grew to love from Korean history and cinema

How do you feel about Musashi swords? Before looking at your video, I saw some reviews of Musashi swords that made them seem rather respectable: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndsKCkwrt Plus, I saw your video about folded swords and that got me thinking about swords forged with the highest quality metal so as to have the least number of impurities. So, I aimed for a sword made of 1060 high carbon steel. The Musashi Silver series is $160 on Amazon. But, when I got mine, it came wrapped in plastic and oiled.

What is your explanation for the katanas that appear to be Japanese of good quality, but are blunt and the scabbard covered with auspicious Chinese symbols, often astrological? I have heard that these scabbards were covered by these symbols by superstitious Japanese during the occupation period.

Thank you for your hard work. God bless you 🙏

Are there any modern made katanas that are made in Japan like a 1095 high carbon etc Japanese made sword

In my 15 years of experience. Hanwei use to be the best at one time along with Howard Clarke and bugei , dynasty forge. In my experience it goes from lowest Cheap wall hanger (illegal in the UK) Low carbon blade for under 200 by anyone Mid carbon blade by musashi ,ryumon or dojo pro Hanwei Kanie Dynasty forge Bugei Custom forges Howard Clarke True nihonto. 2.5k plus or 4k dollars

I love this , it’s just like going to a Sushi restaurant in say London. Would that not be considered actual sushi just because it’s not from Japan 😂

Good presentation!

Really good video, thank you

It is the nature of technology to move uphill and improve. I have one " Katana " with a T-10 , tungsten reinforced blade. I certainly do not tend to regard it as mere " junk". T-10 is a strong tool steel and I'm not about to run my fingers or thumbs down the edge of this blade , in particular ! Much less any of the other blades I own.

Are apprentice made katanas made in Japan of high quailty like the polish or are they rubbish not meant for cutting

Go for a sword from a reputable forge like Hanwei, Skyjiro,sinosword or Ronin katana and you won't go wrong

It's like anything else bought from anywhere else really. To varying degrees, you're getting what you've paid for. Pay for the cheapest thing on the market, expect junk. Buy in the mid range, expect something that can be used daily for years so long as it isn't abused. And if you want something that's truly good quality, it's going to cost quite a bit of money because master craftsmen aren't cheap.

Keep up the good work

I have seen Chinese made katana and that exactly one was dangerous for every person in a 10m radius because it was made really bad and the fitting was the worst. Also I have seen one that was really good made with small mistakes of course but for its price was just perfect...soo it depends on where you buy it from the quality of the work and many other things

Thanks for another interesting video. If anybody "out there" has any experience with HANBON FORGE in ordering a katana, please sound off what you thought about it.

Paul chen hanwei is chinese and his company makes really good swords. He was trained by japanese sword makers and he trained a couple handfuls of people the only change is they are using machines at some points of process. Its like japan style sword making with industrial china style blacksmithing.

Very informative video.. thank you..

Brilliant video thank you!

What shoots Chinese katanas in the foot is lack of QC. There are quality swords in the under $300 range - Musashi, Ronin, Ryujin, JKoo, Dragon King. When you pay more Huawei, Skijero, Hanwei, Bugei become available. But you will encounter a very sharp Robin or JKoo, which tend to be sharpened with care outperforming $1500 Hanwei swords. There are different ways to sharpen swords, but the swords have to be Nihonto sharp with tight fittings. Ronin produces an excellent 1060 katana more practical and sharper than Hanwei specialty steel blades. Likewise JKoos T10 katanas - T10 is nothing more than 1095 with manganese added for better durability and less brittleness. These swords can be sharpened either on a belt/buffer or hand polished. But they have to be Nihonto level sharpened. As soon as Chinese forges produce consistently very sharp, durable swords (= 99+%) of production, they will be the best value in swords. Purists like differentially hardened, folded, laminate, damascus blades, but they are not as durable or as practical as modern thruhardened, monosteel blades. They may be more attractive, but if you have a working monosteel sword, thruhardened is better, and the Chinese have production of such swords down cold. So are Chinese katanas junk? Generally, no. But they suffer from inconsistent QC, and one dull sword causes 100 to suffer in sales. Are Chinese katanas as good as Japanese Nihonto? Japanese Nihonto is more ceremonial and decorative while being functional. They are swords made in archaic ways which are not as suited (most aren't used today) for practical applications. While it is nice to admire a samurai grade status symbol, 99% of practitioners are better served with a very sharp, quality, monosteel, thruhardened katana like an L6 Hanwei or even a mid grade Ronin or JKoo. Dragon King makes a great sword as well.

I have a question. If a swors has the made in china stamp can it still be a good quality sword.

I only like the original nihonto .

loved this

I gotta Chinese made katana called Kobuse steel forged, expensive but very strong and flexible steel!

plz tell me the company that makes good chinese sword

The answer is obviously NO before hearing your comments but good info dude.

Got a t10 tachi..would take into battle

I enjoy my ronin dojo pro and dragon king katanas from China

I would never order katana's from Chinese,. But rather the Chinese sword itself damn the thing is very good.

well that explains it. good on you. thanx

I adore katanas, they are beautiful. But if i had to buy a true sword, i would choose a Rapier. It's easy to handle, light, it cuts on both edges and pierce almost too easily. I think they are superior to katana. What do you think ?

Musashi? 🤔

Rat Tail Tang! thats what they are called! haha thanks! learn alot of things today

It's All about the cost.

I buy chinese sword for the design not necessarily the functionality

A good samurai practitioner is always missing the tips of their ears!!!!

nice video

Chinese Ak-47s such as the Polytech Legends that were manucatured in the 1990s are much better quality products than their 30 year newer American counterpart. 3000 dollar for the 30+ year old Chinese AK-47 and 900 dollars for the American made ak-47.

THX for your Help. Korean Swords Better are than too👍

Murasame makes some decent katanas. I've heard that they're ehhhh, but it's probably on the higher end of doo doo katanas.

Made in China? I still.respect the sword especially the katana.

"masters tend to make chinese style swords" good. and doubly good they tend to make historic swords rather than kung fu stuff.

Крутые😊

Nope! Great Forges in China!

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